How to Beat The Old Pike Boss in How to Fish (3-Step Quick Guide)
To defeat The Old Pike in How to Fish, cast with Stinky Cheese or Spark Plug Sinker into the center vortex of Sunken Sawmill Lake during daytime. Stay firmly on the wooden sawmill docks to prevent stamina drownings. When it breaches, reel hard to beach it on the planks, then unload full-auto SMG fire into its exposed red gills. DO NOT SELL THE PIKE SAWJAW — deliver it to Lumberjack Sven to unlock Desert Island passage!
Equip Pull Back Rod with Stinky Cheese / Spark Plug. Cast into center lake vortex during daytime.
Stay on wooden platforms. Pull line when breaching to beach it, then burst its red gills with full-auto SMG.
Bring Pike Sawjaw trophy to Lumberjack Sven to build the Desert transport cart bridge. Do not sell!
The Old Pike
The gatekeeper of the mid-game. Unlocks your first automatic firearms and introduces the game-changing Pull Back Rod.
Critical Mistakes to Avoid & Quest Warnings
- ⚠️DO NOT SELL 'Pike Sawjaw Trophy'. Required by Lumberjack Sven to construct the bridge to the Desert transport cart.
- ⚠️Falling into the deep sawmill vortex causes instant stamina drain; stay planted firmly on timber decks.
How to Summon The Old Pike
Fish in the deepest swirling vortex at the center of the Sunken Sawmill Lake during daylight hours.
Combat Phases & Tactics Breakdown
Sawmill Torpedo Runs (100% - 50% HP)
Swims at extreme speeds in a figure-eight pattern around the sawmill ruins, launching surprise breach lunges.
- Saw-Tooth Breach (Leaps out of water to crush player on the dock)
- Tail Wave (Splashes water wave that knocks player into deep water)
Log Roll Frenzy (50% - 0% HP)
The Pike bites floating timber logs, hurling them at the player while thrashing in a frenzy.
- Log Projectile Toss (Ranged physical attack)
- Spinning Saw Cleave (Spins 360 degrees with open jaws)
Boss Drops & Trophy Use Cases
Used to unlock Desert Island passage with Lumberjack NPC.
REQUIRED QUEST ITEM!
Excellent for quick cash or high-calorie hunger restoration.
Carry at least 120+ SMG rounds or 25+ Shotgun shells before casting the summon lure.
Eat a Prehistoric Pike Steak (+20% Stamina Regen for 5m) to prevent line breaks during extended boss breaches.
Back up your local save directory before initiating high-tier boss encounters in multiplayer lobbies.
Frequently Asked Questions (The Old Pike)
Q:Where is The Old Pike located in How to Fish?
The Old Pike is the Apex Boss of Island 2 (Forest Island). Its fishing vortex is located at the center of the deep Sunken Sawmill Lake.
Q:How do you summon The Old Pike in How to Fish?
Equip Stinky Cheese or a Spark Plug Sinker to your Pull Back Rod and cast directly into the deepest swirling vortex at the center of the Sunken Sawmill Lake during daylight hours.
Q:How do you defeat The Old Pike in How to Fish?
1. Remain positioned on the wooden sawmill platforms — do NOT enter the water or vortex, which drains stamina rapidly. 2. When the Pike breaches during its figure-eight run, pull your line to fling it onto the planks. 3. During Phase 2, dodge thrown timber logs and unload full magazines of SMG fire directly into its exposed red gills.
Q:What do you do with the Pike Sawjaw drop?
DO NOT SELL the Pike Sawjaw trophy! Bring it to Lumberjack Sven near the logging camp. He requires the sawjaw to build the reinforced wooden bridge leading to the Desert transport cart.
Q:What weapon is best against The Old Pike?
The full-auto SMG purchased from the Forest Island outpost combined with the $250 Pull Back Rod is the optimal loadout. The SMG's high rate of fire shreds its 1,200 HP during the brief gill exposure windows.
Related Habitat, Progression & Arsenal Guides
Weapons & Rods
Weapon DPS ratings & Pull Back Rod
Difficulty Settings
Easy mode -30% boss HP reduction
5-Island Progression
Deliver The Old Pike trophy to advance
Fish & Bait Database
All local catches on Forest Island (Sawmill)